Patent attributes
A method of assembling a turbocharger having a vaned turbine nozzle includes first forming a sub-assembly of a center housing, shaft, bearings, compressor wheel, turbine wheel, and vane assembly. The vane assembly is held captive in attachment to the center housing by an annular heat shield that includes prongs or the like at its inner and outer peripheries for respectively engaging a first catch formed on the center housing and a second catch formed on the nozzle ring of the vane assembly. The heat shield forms a snap fit to the center housing and nozzle ring, thereby connecting the cartridge to the center housing. The whole sub-assembly is then joined to the turbine housing, in the process axially compressing the heat shield and a spring shroud for exerting an axial biasing force on the nozzle ring.